Florida lawmakers plan comprehensive gambling review

Published: Monday, January 14, 2013 at 10:22 AM.

TALLAHASSEE — The chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee says the Florida Legislature will conduct a comprehensive review of all forms of gambling.

Sen. Garrett Richter, a Naples Republican, said the objective over the next two years will be to determine how gambling regulations and revenues benefit Floridians before changes are made.

Richter said that in the past, gambling legislation was passed without knowing the effect it would have.

He said the House and Senate will jointly hire a consultant to conduct the review covering all forms of gambling.

That includes the state lottery, Indian casinos, cruises to nowhere, Internet cafes, horse and dog racing and jail alai, which already exist in the state. It also will cover potential new forms of gambling such as destination resorts.

TALLAHASSEE — The chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee says the Florida Legislature will conduct a comprehensive review of all forms of gambling.

Sen. Garrett Richter, a Naples Republican, said the objective over the next two years will be to determine how gambling regulations and revenues benefit Floridians before changes are made.

Richter said that in the past, gambling legislation was passed without knowing the effect it would have.

He said the House and Senate will jointly hire a consultant to conduct the review covering all forms of gambling.

That includes the state lottery, Indian casinos, cruises to nowhere, Internet cafes, horse and dog racing and jail alai, which already exist in the state. It also will cover potential new forms of gambling such as destination resorts.

Below is an earlier version of this story:

TALLAHASSEE — The Senate Gaming Committee will meet Monday afternoon for the first time this year.

The committee, which is chaired by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, will hear from Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Ken Lawson, who is expected to deliver a historical overview of pari-mutuel gaming, regulation and revenues. Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O'Connell also will report on the 25th anniversary of the lottery, and legislative staff will present an economic overview of gaming industries in Florida and a review of the Seminole gaming compact, according to a news release.

The release notes "[t]he presentations will mark first steps toward the new committee's comprehensive review of how gaming regulations and revenues contribute to Florida's economic and social welfare."

The committee meets from 3-5 p.m. CST in th Senate Office Building in Tallahassee.

NOTE: Clicking on hashtags in this stream may result in seeing adult material, such as photos or foul language, that appear elsewhere on Twitter. We do not endorse such material, but we do not have control over what items can be found in hashtag searches.